The firm of Howard & Sons, recorded at Berners St. from circa 1850, were typical of many major furniture manufacturers of the period in being able to produce a range of high quality furniture in a variety of fashionable styles including Chippendale Revival, Chinoiserie and the Pompeian style (of which they showed examples at the 1862 Exhibition, London). Towards the end of the 19th century, they became especially associated with soft furnishings, producing distinctively styled club armchairs (often with raked outline similar to the offered lot) and sofas, and many distinguished country house collections now contain examples. Similar chairs for the estate of Lord Wolverton, were sold Christie's house sale, Queensberry House, Newmarket, 5 May, 1987 Lots 429 and 488.